Automatic alarm.



C. C. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC ALARM.

APPLIGATIOH FILED JAN.15, 191s.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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WITNESSES CALVIN C. MILLER, 0F SUMMIT HILL, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed-Tannery 15, 1913. Serial No. 742,227.

To all LP/ 107)), it may concern:

3e it known that I, CALVIN C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Summit Hill, in the county of Carbon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Automatic Alarms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in automatic alarms employed in connection with steam boilers; and the object of my invention is to provide an automatically operated device of a simple and inexpensive nature and of a compact and durable construction capable of being readily attached to any boiler to operate a plurality of warning signals whenever the water level falls below a pre determined point.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combina tion and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the appended claims, it be ing further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts .in the several views: Figure l,-shows a broken portion of a steam boiler, disclosing my automatic alarm in position. Fig. 2, shows a modification of the operating mech anism. Fig. 3, shows a further modification of my device. Fig. 4, is a section on line 1, 1, of Fig. 1.

Many boiler explosions have occurred because the engineers allowed the water to sink below the danger level. The glass watcr gages further often become clogged with sediment and so fail to reveal the real condition in the boiler. In my present invention I provide a simply constructed device which can be attached to any steam boiler provided with a plurality of audible alarms, one or" which is to be locatedimmediately adjacent to the boiler, while the remaining alarm may be located at a point distant from the boiler as in the superintendents ollice. Both of these alarms will continuously sound a warning as long as the water is below a predetermined point.

In the accompanying drawings the nu meral 1, indicates a boiler, 2, the front sheet of the boiler and 3, the flues. The front sheet is provided with a threaded opening 1 above the normal water line, surrounding which is a threaded collar 5 and removably held within this collar 5,'is the cylindrical housing 6, as used in my invention, which is exteriorly threaded and has an extending apertured ear 2 carrying the pin 3. This housing is clearly shown in the drawings as provided with a bore 7 ending in a threaded enlargement which is arranged to receive a plug 8 as shown in Fig. 3. This housing is further provided with a channel 17, ending in the inner valve seat 16, this channel 17 extending through a threaded boss 18 arranged to receive a-suitable nipple 20 or cap 19, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown said bore and channel extend through said housing in superposedparallel spaced relation. v

In Fig. 1, the boss 18 is shown as provided.

with the nipple 20 receiving the pipe .21 to,

the end of which is secured a Whistle 31, shown in dotted lines.

Reciprocating within the bore 7 and extending beyond the ends of the housing 6 is the plunger 9 ending in the bifurcated head 10, carrying the pin 11, arranged to slide within the slot 12, shown in Fig. 3, of the T-shaped head 13, on which is also the valve 15 arranged for coaction with the Valve seat 16.

Secured to the stem 14 is the crooked bar 33 forming a part of the float 32. This float is preferably cylindrical and of a diameter less than the diameter of the housing6 so that this float may be introduced through the boiler opening 4 and collar 5.

Suitably secured tothe outer face of the housing 6, is the non-conducting member 22 which is held in place by means of a screw 23. As shown this non-conducting member 22 carries the conductor 25 which is normally in contact with the plunger 9. Posiwire 28 attached to the remaining pole of the battery 29. The bell is so arranged that the same will ring as soon as the circuit is closed.

The operation of my device is very simple. As long as the water is at a proper level, the float will operate to close the channel 7 in which condition the plunger 9 will be in retracted position so that the contact making members 2% and 25 are in touch. As soon as the water drops down below a predetermined point the float will operate the head 13 to unseat the valve 15, while forcing the plunger 9 outward. This will result in the steam escaping through the channel 17 and a pipe 21 to blow the whistle 31. If after this warning signal the water is still permitted to sink the plunger will finally force the yielding member 25 outward against the yielding member 24 to complete the circuit to operate the electrical alarm which, as explained, may be located at a point distant from the boiler. Under these lastnamed conditions both alarms will be operated.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the instrumentalities arranged to merely operate the electrical alarm, the boss 18 in this instance being closed by means of the cap 19.

In Fig. 3, the instrumentalities are shown arranged to merely operate the whistle, the plug 8 being within the threaded socket at the end of the bore 7. In Fig. 4, the location of the channel 17 and bore 7 is disclosed. 1

From the foregoing it will be understood that I provide an alarm which can be secured to any suitable boiler, in merely providing the same with an opening and a supporting flange 5, and that the engineer near the boiler is first warned and that the second signal is not operated until a certain length of time has elapsed after the sounding of the first alarm.

The device is simple and inexpensive in construction and both durable and efiicient in operation.

Having thus described my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. The combination with the front sheet of a steam boiler having a threaded opening above the normal water line, or an exteriorly threaded cylindrical housing held within said opening having an ear located within said boiler, a bore, and a channel extending through said housing in superposed parallel spaced relation, said channel ending iii a valve seat located within said boiler, of a plunger reciprocating within said bore and extending beyond the ends of said housing, a T-shaped head pivotally secured to said ear, means to connect said plunger to one end of said head, a valve arranged for co-action with said seat secured to the opposite end of said head, a crooked bar secured to the central stem of said T-shaped head, and a float secured to the end of said crooked bar, all arranged to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A device of the type described, includ-. ing a housing having a valve seat ended channel, a parallel bore extending therethrough, a plunger slidably disposed in said bore, a centrally pivoted head, a float having a pin and slot connection with said plunger, said head carrying a valve engaging the valve seat ended portion of said housing, a signal device and an electrical circuit between said plunger and said signaling device, and a signaling means controlled from said valve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CALVIN C. MILLER.

Witnesses:

OLIVER D. Rex, ALBERT S. MILLER. 

